Sole-conditioning machine



May 8, wfi H. E. MARAsco SOLE-CONDITIONING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 31, 1951 May 89 31951 H. E. MARAsco 2,551,804

SOLE-CONDITIONING MACHINE Filed Jan. 51, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheel 2 May 8, 11951 H. E. MARAsco 2551,894

SOLE-CONDITIONING MACHINE Filed Jan. 31, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 8, 1951 H. E. MARAsco 2,551,804

SOLE-CONDITIONING MACHINE Filed Jan. ;51. 1951 '4 sheets-sneet 4 Patented May 8, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to machinery useful in the manufacture of shoes and in particular to machines for treating outsoles to impart to them characteristics desirable in the operation of cement sole attaching.

Before an outsole can readily be attached to the shoe bottom its coating of cement must be activated or otherwise rendered tacky and adhesive. Also the leather must be humidified or mulled to impart flexibility and plasticity sufli-l cient to enable the sole to follow and retain the rather severe contours of the shoe bottom.

While many machines and systems have been employed With varying success to condition outsoles preparatory to cement sole attaching or to condition cemented inscles for cement lasting, no prior machine to my knowledge has successfully combined the activation of the cement and the mulling of the leather.

The most important object of my invention is to improve the economy and facility With which soles may be conditioned preparatory to attachment to the shoe bottom.

Another object of my invention is to combine in one machine the functions of mulling and cement activating, thereby decreasing the number of machines and Operations heretofore required.

An important feature of the invention resides in the combination of a pair of cooperating rolls, one of which is perforated or foraminous and supplied interiorly with wet steam from a suitable steam generator and wherein both rolls are heated, the arrangement being such that a sole may be fed between the rolls with its cementcoated surface against the foraminous roll and the grain surface against the other heated roll. In the operation of the machine the sole is simultaneously heated, moistened, and fiexed under pressure.

An important advantage flowing from the employment of a machine constructed in accordance with this invention is that soles coated with thermoplastic cement are readily processed, since the surfaces of the rolls may be heated sufilciently to cause the cement to become plastic, a result difficult and impractical to produce .by the application of hot water vapor alone. When soles are subjected to a hot saturated atmosphere long enough to activate thermoplastic cement, it is found that the sole must be left in the press for an excessive time in order to produce a Satisfactory bond with the shoe bottom.

These and other objects and features of my invention, together with incideut advantages,

Will more readfly be understood and appreciated from the following` detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a view in cross section along the line 2 2 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation with portions being removed and others shown in section, and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the machine.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings the machine is organized about a frame composed essentially of a flat metal base Ill and integral side walls or standards |2 and 14.. Near the base i, the front of the frame is closed by a wall or plate l extendng about a third of the Way up from the base iii. In the rear a wall |3 closes the frame and extends up from the base I-about one half the height of the machine. These Walls define an enclosure or reservoir employed as a steam generating Chamber covered at its top by an integral wall i) sloping downwardly from side to side. A drain plug '22 is let into ,the Wall M just above the cover 28 in order to permit the removal of water dropping on the plate from above and collecting above the low point.

The reservoir beneath the cover 23 is provided With a drain 24 disposed in the front wall 16 and With a fill pipe 32 which may be conveniently led to any suitable water supply (not shown) such as a Constant-level barometric feeder of ordinary construction.

An immersion heater 26 projects into the reservoir through the side wall [2 and terminates exteriorly in an electrical plug 21. The reservolr is also provided With a thermostat 28 also projecting through the wall i. Finally a plug 30 1s let into the wall 18 to provide accommodation for a thermcmeter, if desired. Ordinarily the operation of the heater will be Controlled by the thermostat 28 suitably connected in conventional fashion to monitor the supply of current to the heater 26.

Disposed in the frame above the reservolr is a perforated roll comprising a cylindncal foraminous shell 34 of brass or other suitable material mounted at each end on a hub 36 keyed in turn to a hollow foram-inous shaft W journaled in heat-resistant bearings 42 mounted in the side walls IZ and 14 and terminating adjacent the wall i in a solid shaft 54. The other end of the shaft 49 opens into a hollow block 44 provided into a curved Chamber or conduit 46 communicating with the reservoir through a hole 158 in the wall l2.

The surface of the shell 34 is provided with continuous spiral groove 59 the bottom of which is interrupted by a mutiplicity of small throughand-through perforations 52 leading to the space between the shaft fi and the shell 3d.

Nounted above the roll 35 is a second hollow roll comprising a cylindrical shell 53 also of brass and mounted at each end upon the hub 60 keyed to a solid shaft 82. At one end the shaft 62 turns in a bearing block 64 working in a slot in the side wall li. Adjacent and exterior of the block S4 the shaft 62 is provided with a gear 55 which meshes with a similar gear 53 secured to the shaft 5d.

A helical compression spring 58 bears at its lower end against the bottom of a socket in the top of the block i and at its other end against a plunger '52. A bolt "to is threaded into the top of the .plunger "52 and also through a cap plate 'E secured to the tops of the walls |2 and id by four screws lf.

rhe side wall 12 is provided with a slot T8 in which slides a bearing block S3 in which the other end of the shaft 62 is journaled. The top of the block S9 is provided with a cylindrical socket in which is seated the lower end of a helical compression spring 92 engaged at its upper end by a plunger s. A bolt 8-6 is threaded through the plate 'iii and into the plunger f, being held in adjusted position by means of a lock nut 83. It will now be evident that the roll 58 may yield upwardly away from the roll 3d in response to pressure from beneath. The tension of the Springs and 92 may be adjusted by manipulation of the bolts 'l and 85 to urge the rolls together under desired sprin.U pressure.

In the bottom of the bearing block 8B there is provided a stop bolt 82 provided with a lock nut By manipulaticn of the bolt 32 the block Sll together with the roll may be rocked up and down. By means of that adiustment the two rolls 3d and 58 may be brought into cXact parallelism when the machine is installed.

In order to apply heat to the surface of the upper roll 5-8 I einploy a shoe or Curved block i which enibraces an arc of the periphery of the roll 58 d is held in position by a pair of guide pins f niounted in the plate 'M and work'- ing in 1'ioles bored in the block. The block lj is also bored to provide a pair of sockets 98 receiving heiical compression Springs 1534i received at their upper ends in shallow sockets in the lower surface of the plate 'ie and serving to urge the shoe iil against the roll 58.

A pair of electrical resistance heaters lil are disposed. in bores running longitudinally through the shoe lil and serve 'to heat the block to a desired temperature.

As shown in 2, the lower roll 34 is similarly heated by a shoe bored as shown at I to receive a pair of electric heating units M8 (Fig. l). The block lll is held in position by a pair ofguide pins lil and urged against the r-oll 3d by means of a pair of Springs M2 working in soclzets in the cuter face of the block Il and in shallow sfckets in the inner face of a plate or strap i-2- secured at each end to one of the "e walls lfl. The heaters HG may be thermcstaticaily controlled by conventional means (not sho' J to rc intain a predeterrnined roll surface t perature.

To remove eaoess moi-store from the rolls 3G and 58, I provide them With wipers. At the rear of the machine a Wiper bracket is m-ounted on pivot pins 122 threaded in the side walls 12 and |4 and urged toward the surface of 'ie roll 34 by a spring [26 working against the wiper bracket 12B and the rear wall I 8. A long felt strip 121i is pressed into a slot on the inner face of the wiper bracket |2E] and wipcs the surface of the rotating roll 34.

A similar wiper fixture serves the rear of the roll 53, including a wper bar or bracket l28 mounted on pivot pins [39 and urged upon the roll 53 by means of a pair of Springs |32 embracing screws E34 threaded in a cross member HG. The bracket |28 carries a long strip [26 of felt 01' other absorbent material. In the front of the machine the roll 58 is served by a wiper including a felt strip l38 held in a transversc bar Mil mounted to swing on pivot pins M2 and urged against the roll 58 by a pair of springs I 413 embracing bolts U55 threaded through a cross member M8 spannng the side walls |2 and Hi.

Inasmuch as cement particles may lodge on the surface of the roll 3d, I provide a scraper blade 552 secured to a transverse bracket ISD by a pair of screws l54. The ends of the bracket 150 are turned up to form upstanding lips 156 at each end of the scraper. The bracket Il is mounted at each end on pivot pins 15'5 threaded through the side walls 12 and l, and set screws ISB are threaded through the bracket 150 in position to engage the top of the rear wall IS and to provide means for exerting positive pressure by the scraper l52 upon the surface of the roll 34.

A plate or table 192 is secured to the top of the front cross member I l3 on alevel with the height of the rolls 313 and 5B, and a pair of angle iron side guide plates l64 are secured to the upper surface of the table |62 by a pair of screws {68 working in slots ISS cut in the plates 134. The guides il may be set at a width convenient to guide and direct a sole lengthwise into engagement with the rolls 34 and 58.

In Operating the machine a sole carrying a coating of cement is placed on the table |G2 and pushed by hand into engagement with the rolls which then feed the sole through to the rear of the machine. The cement-coated side of the sole i-s placed face down so that it encounters the heated surface of the roll 34 and is also subjected to wet steam emanating from the interior of the roll 34 through the holes 52. The sole is also heat-ed on its uncoated side by contact with the hot surface of the upper roll 58. Excess moisture accumulating on the rolls is removed by the Wipers |24, l25, and 133. In its passage through the rolls the sole is also flexed somewhat by the pressure exerted upon it, although the roll 58 will yield upwardly in its spring-loaded bearings, to accommodate soles of different thickness or soles of uneven thickness.

The activation of sole cements, such as neoprene type cement or Buna N type cement is primarily aceomplished by the heat of the roll 34 assisted by the wet steam. The tacky point of the cement will determine the desirable Operating temperature for the rolls. I have found about L7 C. to be satisfactory for Buna N type cement. Furthermore the combination of heat, moisture, pressure and fiexing not only activates the sole ement but also renders the sole plastic as a whole, by which is meant that it becomes sumciently pliable and workable to adapt itself quickly to the contours of the shoe bottom and then,

as is characteristic of leather, retain those contours after removal from the sole-attaching press. The fact that the sole is properly conditioned as to moldability and activation results in materially reducing the time during which the sole is in the press, since a good bond is obtained in minimum time. Consequently the production rate of a multi-station press may be increased, or the number of presses reduced without lowering daily production. Moreover it is unnecessary to employ a sole molding machine as a means of conditioning the sole for attaching, since the pressure of the press is sufiicient to mold a sole oonditioned on a machine embodying my invention.

There are additional advantages incident to the operation of the machine of my invention. For example, the volume of water required is rather small because water vapor condensed at the contact surface will fall on the roll and immediately be re-vaporized. The stream passing through the holes in the heated roll will be further heated and thereby soften and loosen the fibers on the cemented surface of the sole and cause maximum penetration of the cement. The grooves in the lower roll distribute the water vapor over a larger area of the role than would be the case with a smooth foraminous roll. Finally, the machine is readily constructed as a small bench machine with simple controls of conventional nature.

Having thus disclosed my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for conditioning soles, comprising a frame, a hollow perforated roll mounted for rotation in said frame, a reservoir disposed in said frame, means for heating and vaporizing liquid contained in said reservoir, a conduit connecting said reservoir to the interior of the perforated roll, a presser roll disposed for rotation in said frame parallel and adjacent the perforated roll, and means for heating the surface of said presser roll.

2. A machine for conditioning soles, comprising a frame, a hollow perforated roll mounted for rotation in said frame, a reservoir disposed in said frame, means for heating and vaporizing liquid contained in said reservoir, a conduit connecting said reservoir to the interior of the perforated roll, a presser roll, spring loaded bearings disposed in said frame and journaling said presser roll parallel to and adjacent said hollow perforated roll with provision for yielding movement, and means for heating the surface of the latter roll.

3. A machine for conditioning soles, comprising a frame, a hollow roll mounted in the frame and having spiral surface grooves and perforations lying within said grooves, a reservoir, means for heating and vaporizing a liquid contained in said reservoir, a conduit connecting 6 said reservoir to the interior of said hollow roll, a second roll mounted in said frame adjacent and parallel to said hollow roll, and means for heating the surfaces of both rolls.

4. A machine for conditioning soles, comprising a frame, a hollow perforated roll journaled in the frame, a reservoir disposed in said frame, means for heating and vaporizing a liquid contained in said reservoir, a second roll mounted for rotation in said frame adjacent and parallel to said hollow roll, means for conducting vapors from said reservoir to said hollow roll, a block having an arcuate surface engaging said second roll, and means for heating said block.

5. A machine for conditioning soles, comprising a frame, a hollow perforated roll journaled in the frame, a reservoir disposed in said frame, means for heating and vaporizing a liquid contained in said reservoir, a second roll mounted for rotation in said frame adjacent and parallel to said hollow roll, means for conducting vapors from said reservoir to said` hollow roll, a block disposed adjacent each roll and having an arcuate rollengaging surface, and heating elements mounted in said blocks.

6. A machine for conditioning soles, comprising a frame, a hollow foraminous roll mounted for rotation in-said frame, means associated with said frame for generating vapor and conducting vapor to the interior of the roll, a second hollow roll, bearings mounting said second roll adjacent and aparallel to the first roll with provision for limited yielding movement, moisture absorbent wipers bearing on said rolls and mounted in said frame, and means for heating the outer surface of bothrolls.

7. A sole conditioning machine comprising a pair of cooperating rolls one of which is hollow and foraminous, means for supplying heated water vapor to the interior of the hollow foramino-us roll, arcuate shoes bearing on both of said rolls, means for heating said shoes, and means for rotatably mounting the rolls.

8. A sole conditioning machine comprising a pair of cooperating rolls one of which is hollow and foraminous, wipers mounted in position to bear on said rolls, means for supplying heated water vapor to the interior of the hollow foraminous roll, arcuate shoes bearing on both of said rolls, means for heating said shoes, and means for rotatably mounting the rolls.

9. A sole conditioning machine comprising a pair of cooperating rolls one of which is hollow and foraminous and provided with surface grooves, means for supplying heated water vapor to the interior of the hollow foraminous roll, arcuate shoes bearing on both of said rolls, means for heating said shoes, and means for rotatably mounting the rolls.

HAROLD E. MARASCO.

No references cited. 

